Mechanical movement



(No Model.)

0. 0. WHITE.

MEGHANIGAL MOVEMENT.

- Patented June '19, 1883.

N. PETERS. FhckrLiXhcgrapher. Washmgtou, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OTIS C. WHITE, OF HOPKINTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

MECHANICAL MOVEMENT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 279,897, dated June 19,1883.

Application filed April 12, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it 111.01g concern: v

Be it known that I, OTIS 0. WHITE, of Hopkinton, in the county ofMiddlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented a certain new anduseful Mechanical Movement, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanical movements whereby reciprocatingmotion is converted into rotary motion; and its object is to provide animproved and efficient device for this purpose, more particularlydesigned for operation by manual power for various purposes in vtheartssueh, for instance, as elevating or shifting bodies or objects.

The improvements claimed by me are particularly recited at the close ofthe specification. Some of my said improvements may be used without theothers, and in devices differing, as a whole, from that which I willparticularly describe herein.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a view in elevation of myimprovements embodied in the best way now known to me. Fig. 2* is alongitudinal section thereof, and Fig. 3 is a view of part of theapparatus from the side opposite that shown in Fig. 1. a

A suitable base or frame, A, is provided with bearings for a turningshaft, B, which is to be intermittently rotated to raise or move bodiesor weights, or for other purposes. In this example the shaft 13 is avertical screw-shaft, and is provided with a bevelpinion, b, by which itis rotated or driven intermittently. Gearing or meshing with said pinionb is a similar pinion, c, mounted on the end of (in this instance) ahollow shaft, 0, which has its bearings in a vibratable or rockinglever-frame, D, hinged or jointed at one end to a portion of the frameor base A. This rocking frame D is fitted in this example, at its outerend, to move vertically (around its pivotal connection) within a doublecurved rack-post, E, and the end of said rocking frame beyond saidrack-post isprovided with two i11- dependent pivoted treadles orfoot-rests, F F, by which the rocking flame is forced downward whenpressure is applied by the foot of the operator. A spring, G, acts uponthe rocking frame D and tends to keep it normally at its highestelevation within the rack-post E, in readiness for a depression by thefoot of the operator.

Loosely mounted upon the hollow shaft C are two pinion-wheels, H I. Thepinion-wheel H meshes with the rack e of one member of the doublerack-post E, while the pinion-wheel I meshes with the rack e of theother member of said post. Should the rocking frame D be depressedwithout pressure upon either of the pedals F F, the pinions H I wouldsimply revolve in opposite directions loosely around the shaft 0 withoutany effect upon said shaft; but if pressure is applied to either of thepivoted pedals alone to depress or rockthe outer end of the frame Ddownward, said shaft 0 will be revolved by means'of clutch mechanismoperated through the instrumentality of the pedals which couple thepinions to the shaft, and con sequently rotates it as the pinion inclutch with the shaft is rotated by moving the frame D downward ordepressing it.

Two clutches are employed, one for each pedal. One of said clutches, J,(which are ratchet-clutches in this instance,) is mounted upon the shaft0, and is connected therewith, so as to be incapable of independentrotary movement, while movable endwise thereon, by means of a pin, j,passing through the clutchsleeve and through longitudinal slots in the Ishaft, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. On the outer edge of theclutch-sleeve ratchet-teeth are formed, so as to oppose and engagesimilar teeth on the inner end of the hub of the pinion H, Theelutch-teeth of the clutch J and pinion H are normally separated ordisengaged, and maintained in this position by an interposed spring, j.Contained within the hollow shaft 0 is an endwise-movable rod, f, oneend of which is connected to the clutch J by the pin 9', while itsopposite end is connected to one arm, 70, of a forked pivot-piece, K,the other arm, in, of which pivot-piece lies under the pedal F, so thatwhen said pedal is depressed said pivot-piece will be rocked to draw outthe rod f and throw the clutch J into driving connection with the-pinionH. The other of said clutches-the one L-like the clutch J, is mounted onthe shaft 0 so as to be movable endwise, but be incapable of independentturning movements thereon, and is provided with clutch-teeth the reverseof those of the clutch J, opposed to and adapted to engage similar teethon the outer end of the hub of the pinion I. This sliding clutch L isacted upon by a Spring to normally disengage it from the pinion I, andis thrown in gear with or clutched to said pinion by a pivoted yoke, L,one end of which is connected to the clutch, and the other of whichprojects beneath the pivoted pedal F, so that when pressure is appliedto said pedal to move the lever-frame D downward the shaft and pinion Iwill be connected together by a driving-connection.

By the organization I have described I make provision for revolving theshaft 0, and consequently its driven shaft B, in one direction by thedownward thrust of the foot when placed on one pedal, and for revolvingsaid shafts in the opposite direction when pressure is applied upon asecond pedal,whereby the object to be moved or elevated may be forced inone direction or the other, as desired. For instance, suppose thescrew-shaft B is to be rotated, to elevate a weight, by suitableconections with said shaft. Pressure is applied by thev foot of theoperator to the proper one of the pedals F F- say F. This causes theclutch J to engage the pinion H, and as said pinion is revolved by itsdownward movement over the rack e, the shaft 0, and consequently theshaft B, will be revolved. Vhen the downward stroke is made, thepressure is relieved, the clutch J separates from the pinion H, and theframe is moved upward by the spring G. N 0 action upon the shaft 0 iseffected by the pinion H on the back stroke, as will be obvious, as ithas been unclutched from said pinion. No action by the pinion I upon theshaft 0 is effected either during the forward or back stroke of theleverframe D, as said pinion I turns loosely about said shaft 0 untilactuated by its own pedal F. The reciprocating movements of the frame Dwill be continued until the weight or object has been moved to thedesired point. \Vhen a reverse movement is to be effected, the operatorexerts his force through the pedal F, which will cause a reverserotation of the shafts O and B by means of the rotation of the pinionIby its rack e, the pinion H being inactive, as will be obvious from theabove description.

It will thus be seen that bya single rocking or reciprocatinglever-frame and double-pedal connections I may impart a rotary motion toa driven shaft in either direction, and this is very desirable for manyuseful purposes in the arts. The movement is very simple and effective.One of the uses to which I intend applying my new movement is for thepurpose of elevating and lowering the bodies of dentists chairs, theadvantages of a good pedal movement for this purpose being wellunderstood.

Some of the prime advantages of my improvements are that comparativelygreat power may be readily applied with but little exertion; that a fullrevolution may be imparted to the driven shaft by a single stroke of thelever-frame under the action of the foot; and that the operation of thedriven-shaft, though intermittent, may be comparatively rapid, the leverbeing automatically raised for a new stroke after the pressure causingthe downward movement is released.

This invention is not limited to details, and many changes may be madewithout departing from it. For instance, the clutches may be operatedwithout inclosing any part of the connecting mechanism in a hollowdrivingshaft, the connections between the pedals and clutches beingexternal ones. So, also, the driving shaft may be a solid shaft. Again,the driven shaft may be horizontal or occupy other positions than avertical position, and in some instances the driven shaft itself may beomitted and the power applied directly through the driving-shaft. So,also, friction or other gears may be substituted for the rack-and-piniongearing, as will be obvious. Again, the frame in which the driving-shaftis mounted may be stationary, and the double rack be mounted on apivoted lever carrying the double pedals, this latter modification beingembodied in a 'dentists chair, for which I have made an application ofeven date herewith. Other changes may be made to suit particularcircumstances, under which my improvements, or some of them, aredesigned to work.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim herein is- 1. Thecombination of a rack-post or its equivalent with a driving-shaft andgearing to imp art motion to said shaft by the movement of the gearingover said post, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the rack-post or its equivalent, thedriving-shaft, gearing to impart motion to said shaft by movementoversaid post, and a clutch arrangement whereby motion may be given saidshaft in either direction.

3. The combination of the rack-post or its equivalent, thedriving-shaft, gearing mounted on said shaft by which to turn it, thepivoted lever-frame having a double-pedal arrangement, and clutchmechanism whereby the depression of said lever-frame by one of itspedals turns the driving-shaft in one direction and by the other pedalturns said shaft in the opposite direction.

4. The combination of a driving-shaft with I a pedal-lever to rotatesaid shaft, said lever carrying pedals to determine the direction ofrotation of said shaft.

5.. The combination of the driven shaft, the driving-shaft having agear-connection with the driven shaft, the pivoted pedal-lever frame inwhich said driving-shaft is mounted, gearing carried by said shaft togive it rotation in opposite directions, the rack-post with which Intestimony whereof I have hereunto subsaid gearing meshes, clutchmechanism oarscribed my name this 11th day of April, A. D. ried by saidframe, and a double-pedal an 1883.

rangement carried by said frame to operate OTIS 0. WHITE. the clutchmechanism and determine the di- Witnesses: reotion of rotation to begiven to the driving- WVM. J. PEYTON,

shaft. EUGENE V. BROWN.

